Method and apparatus for positioning material such as brick blanks, in stacks

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for assembling bricks in layers or flats for stacking on a kiln car or the like wherein bricks of different sizes can be assembled in transverse rows that are spaced at various distances from one another by first moving the bricks in longitudinal rows on a feed belt against a stop which compacts them together longitudinally of the feed belt and at the same time aligns them into the transverse rows, which are then moved onto a transfer belt by automatically programming the starts and stops of the feed belt as the transfer belt is run continuously during the assembly of the layer, so that each row is moved onto the transfer belt and then moved a predetermined distance to space it the required amount from the next row on the feed belt while the latter is momentarily stopped. The invention also includes a method and means for forming oblong stacks by feeding different numbers of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of the stack, the number of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of the stack, the number of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of the stack, the number of longitudinal rows for one layer corresponding to the length of the stack and the number of longitudinal rows for the alternate layer corresponding to the width of the stack.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Johann Lingl Finningerstrasse 70,Neu-Ulm/Danube,

Germany [2 I] Appl. No. 24,262 [22] Filed Apr. 22, 1970 [45] PatentedDec. 7, 1971 Continuation of application Ser. No. 645,850, May 31, 1967,now abandoned. This application Apr. 22, 1970, Ser. No. 24,262

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING MATERIAL SUCH AS BRICK BLANKS,IN STACKS 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

l2/l965 Great Britain Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminer-Robert J. Spar Attorneys-Cushman, Darby & Cushman, Steward &Steward, Roy F. Steward, Merrill F. Steward and Donald T. StewardABSTRACT: A method and apparatus for assembling bricks in layers orflats for stacking on a kiln car or the like wherein bricks of differentsizes can be assembled in transverse rows that are spaced at variousdistances from one another by first moving the bricks in longitudinalrows on a feed belt against a stop which compacts them togetherlongitudinally of the feed belt and at the same time aligns them intothe transverse rows, which are then moved onto a transfer belt byautomatically programming the starts and stops of the feed belt as thetransfer belt is run continuously during the assembly of the layer, sothat each row is moved onto the transfer belt and then moved apredetermined distance to space it the required amount from the next rowon the feed belt while the latter is momentarily stopped. The inventionalso includes a method and means for forming oblong stacks by feedingdifferent numbers of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of thestack, the number of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of thestack, the number of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of thestack, the number of longitudinal rows for one layer corresponding tothe length of the stack and the number of Iongitudinal rows for thealternate layer corresponding to the width of the stack.

PATENIED DEC Han SHEEI 1 OF 2 .m n v m L T n J & an. ..N 6 r M wv DAWNM.1 M t JW METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING MATERIAL SUCH AS BRICKBLANKS, IN STACKS This application is a continuation of 645,850, filedMay 3 l, 1967, and now abandoned.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for positioningmaterial, such as brick blanks, in stacks. In brick manufacture thebricks have to be stacked on the kiln carriages for firing and, afterfiring, are reloaded for transportation to building sites.

It is an object of the present invention to enable difierent sizes ofbricks to be stacked without laborious readjustment of the apparatusused for stacking. Another object of the present invention is to enablethe distances between individual transverse rows in a layer of bricksfor stacking to be varied as required, thus satisfying the requirementsfor a cohesive stack construction and providing gaps in the stackthrough which the fire gases can pass and the prongs of stacking devicesor grabs can be introduced.

To this end, according to the invention, the material for stacking isdeposited or pushed in a number of longitudinal rows disposed one besidethe other on a feed belt; the feed belt is started and the individuallongitudinal rows of the material for stacking are advanced as far as afence; after the feed belt is stopped, the fence is raised, and the feedbelt and an adjoining transfer belt are started, so that the alignedrows of material for stacking are supplied one after the other to thetransfer belt, but the feed belt is automatically started and stopped bya switching system at intervals such as to form on the transfer belt alayer of material for stacking in which the individual transverse rowsare disposed at the correct distances for stacking, whereafter thelayers formed are raised by a grab and stacked.

The use of the method according to the invention enables cohesive stackconstructions to be formed and different gridshaped arrangements of thematerial for stacking to be obtained as required.

The method according to the invention is equally suitable for thepreparation of square or oblong rectangular stacks. After a layer forstacking has been deposited on the transfer belt, the layer is lifted bya grab and deposited, for instance, on a tunnel kiln carriage. Toproduce a crosswise stacking on the carriage, every second layer, afterit has been lifted from the transfer belt, is rotated through 90 by thegrab.

According to another feature of the invention, to form an oblongrectangular stack, a number of longitudinal rows of the material forstacking corresponding to the width of the stack is fed to the transferbelt alternately with a number of longitudinal rows corresponding to thelength of the stack. Apparatus for this purpose must of course be suchthat the number of bricks supplied in longitudinal rows to the transferbelt changes alternately in dependence on the relationship between stacklength and stack width.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which more or less schematicallyillustrate by way of example, two embodiments thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the main apparatus required for theperformance of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a switching system for the apparatus shownin FIGS. I and 2;

FIG. 4 shows a stack which can be produced by means of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a feed belt and transfer belt, slightlymodified from that shown in FIGS. I and 2, on the assumption that theapparatus is to produce a rectangular stack;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a tunnel kiln carriage on to which the layersraised from the feed belt shown in FIG. 5 can be deposited; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the kiln carriage shown in FIG. 6.

The apparatus comprises a conveyor track having a feed belt I and atransfer belt 4 connected to one another via a transfer tongue 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the brick blanks are supplied disposed inlongitudinal rows one beside the other on carrying battens 10 from avertical conveyor or conveyor belt. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2,the brick blanks are gripped by lateral plates 6 of a transfer grab 12moving in a guide rail 13. The grab 12 then deposits the longitudinalrows of brick blanks on the feed belt 1; the grab moving in thedirections shown by an arrow 14. The deposited brick blanks are shown inchain lines in FIGS 1 and 2. Next the feed belt 1 is started, and theindividual longitudinal rows 11 of brick blanks move forward as far as afence 3 which aligns the blanks in transverse rows. After thelongitudinal rows have reached the fence 3, the feed belt 1 is stoppedand the fence 3 is raised. The feed belt 1 and the transfer belt 4 arethen conveniently driven at the same speed, so that each transverse row5 is successively transferred to the belt 4. After the first transverserow 5 has been transferred to the belt 4, the drive of the belt 1 isinterrupted until the next transverse row is taken over by the belt 4 atthe corresponding distance from the first transverse row. This operationis repeated every time a transverse row is taken over by the belt 4.

Different distances between the transverse rows can be produced by thedrive of the feed belt 1 being stopped for different times.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the events just described have formed on thetransfer belt 4 a layer for stacking having spaced transverse rows thedistance of the rows from one another being variable. The layer is thenseized by a grab, illustrated in FIG. 2 merely by its plates I5, 16 and17. The two outer grab plates 15 and 17 engage the end faces of thetransverse rows and force the brick blanks against the centralintermediate plate 16. When the bricks have been seized, the layer islifted by the grab and deposited on a tunnel kiln carriage.

FIG. 3 shows a switching system for controlling the deposition of thebricks on the transfer belt. A number, for instance three, ofprogramming discs 7 connected to a limit switch 8 are disposed on ashaft S ofa timer, which is driven in dependence on or synchronizedwith, the movement of the transfer belt 4. Disposed on each of theprogramming discs 7 are switch cams which act on the associated switch Bto stop the belt 1 at intervals and for a duration such as to producethe required grid-shaped arrangement of blanks on the transfer belt 4.Each individual programming disc 7 is associated with a different gridshape and can be brought into operation as required by a selector switch9. Selection of a particular cam disc 7 therefore so controls the feedbelt 1 as to produce on the transfer belt 4 a layer for stacking havingthe required distance between the individual transverse rows.

As already stated, after a layer has been prepared the fence 3 islowered and then after the blanks have been aligned is lifted again.

Advantageously the fence is moved pneumatically. The whole controlprocess may be performed automatically by means of sequential switchingor programming.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a stack of bricks in which the individuallayers are deposited crosswise. The result is a stack which has enoughgaps, for instance, to allow the fire gases to pass through duringfiring. In accordance with the invention either square or oblong stackscan be formed.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show how the use of the present invention enables arectangular stack to be formed. FIG. 5 is a plan view corresponding toFIG. 2, with the difierence as against the latter that FIG. 5 shows atotal of six longitudinal rows fed on battens 10 to the supply belt I.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the supply belt 1 is widened by twofurther belts 20 and 21, which adjoin the belt 1 on both sides, but havea separate drive. Also the fence 3 is widened by extra fences 3a. Thebrick blanks are transferred from the belts I, 20 and 21 to the transferbelt 4, which is also widened, in the same way as explained in relationto FIGS. 1 and 2. The belts l, 20 and 21 are first drivensimultaneously, to transfer the layer formed by the individualtransverse rows 23 to the transfer belt 4. The layer is lifted by agrab, in the same way as shown in relation to FIG.

2, and deposited in the direction shown by an arrow 28 on a tunnel kilncarriage 25 (FIG. 6). However, to form the next layer, the belts 20 and21 remain stationary, and only the central feed belt 1 is started. Alayer is therefore formed on the transfer belt 4 which comprisesindividual transverse rows 24 (shown in chain lines in FIG. Enoughtransverse rows of bricks are fed by the belt 1 for this second layer sothat its length corresponds exactly to the width of the previouslydeposited layer, consisting of the transverse rows 23. The layer shownin chain lines, comprising the transverse rows 24, is then raised in thesame way by the grab, whereafter the grab is rotated through 90 todeposit the second layer over the first layer on the tunnel kilncarriage shown in FIG. 6. By the alternation of these events arectangular stack 26 is formed on the tunnel kiln carriage 25. Thelayers 23 and 24 deposited alternately are shown in FIG. 7.

Since the tunnel kiln carriage 25 is generally wide enough to take twostacks, after one stack has been deposited the carriage is advanced,whereafter the second stack 27 is deposited.

Lastly, the feed of the brick blanks to the depositing system accordingto the invention has been illustrated merely diagrammatically. lnsteadof using the transfer grab 12, of course, the bricks arriving on thecarrying battens can be pushed onto the feed belt 1 by a pushing device.The grab seizing the layers from the transfer belt 4 can also be of anyconstruction. Only one embodiment thereof, having side plates and 17 andan intermediate plate 16, is shown in FIG. 2.

What I claim is:

l. A method of stacking bricks which comprises the steps of moving aplurality of adjacent longitudinal rows of brick onto a feed belt,aligning the bricks in transverse rows by moving said longitudinal rowslengthwise against a fence, thereupon raising said fence and startingsaid feed belt in order to move a first of said transverse rows onto atransfer belt while running said transfer belt in the same direction as,and at substantially the same speed as, said feed belt, stopping saidfeed belt for a predetermined length of time when said first transverserow is disposed on said transfer belt while continuing to run saidtransfer belt such that said first transverse row is spaced apredetermined distance from the next transverse row on said feed belt,and sequentially starting and stopping said feed belt in time relationwith the speed of said transfer belt in order to form a layer of saidtransverse rows on said transfer belt with said transverse rows spacedat predetermined distances from each other, and thereafter gripping theends of said transverse rows while maintaining the spacing between themin order to lift them as a layer, and then depositing said layer at astacking station.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which every second layer removedfrom the transfer belt is rotated through 90 in relation to thepreceding layer before being deposited.

3. Apparatus for assembling and stacking bricks comprising incombination a conveyor feed belt movable in one direction and a transferbelt disposed in the same plane at the discharge end of said feed beltsubstantially contiguous therewith and movable in same direction and atthe same speed as said feed belt, means for moving bricks onto said feedbelt in a plurality of adjacent longitudinal rows, a stop disposed atthe discharge end of said feed belt and movable into and out of the pathof longitudinal rows of bricks for aligning said bricks in transverserows across said feed belt, a timer synchronized with movement of saidtransfer belt for automatically starting said feed belt in order to movesaid transverse rows successively onto said transfer belt while thelatter is moving and for stopping said feed belt after predeterminedintervals, the length of which depend on the size of said brick, and forpredetermined lengths of time in order to space said transverse rows anydesired distance one from the other on said transfer belt, said timerhaving means for programming such intermittent movement of said feedbelt such that a layer of said transverse rows is assembled on saidtransfer belt with the desired spacing between said rows, and means forgripping said layer at the ends of said transverse rows, for lifting itfrom said transfer belt without disturbing the spacing between saidtransverse rows and for depositing said layer at a stacking station.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said feed belt comprises aplurality of parallel belts, each independently driven and controlled,so that the number of said longitudinal rows of bricks being fed to saidtransfer belt can be varied in order to vary the length of saidtransverse rows for different layers.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said programming meanscomprises a plurality of cam disks and a limit switch associated witheach of said cam disks for starting and stopping said feed belt, and aselector switch for shifting from one cam disk to another in order tochange the program for different size bricks and for changing thespacing between said transverse rows of bricks.

6. A method of stacking bricks which comprises the steps of moving aplurality of adjacent, parallel and longitudinal rows of brick onto afeed belt, transversely aligning the bricks in said rows on said feedbelt while moving said rows thereon, moving said feed belt to transfer afirst of said transverse rows onto a transfer belt while running saidtransfer belt in the same direction as, and at substantially the samespeed as, said feed belt, stopping said feed belt for a predeterminedlength of time when said first transverse row is disposed on saidtransfer belt while continuing to run said transfer belt such that saidfirst transverse row is spaced a predetermined distance from the nexttransverse row on said transfer belt, and sequentially starting ansstopping said feed belt for predetermined intervals in timed relationwith the speed of said transfer belt, the length of said intervalsdepending upon the size of said brick in order to space said transverserows one from another thereby forming a layer of said transverse rows onsaid transfer belt with said transverse rows spaced at predetermineddistances from each other, and thereafter gripping the ends of saidlayer of transverse rows while maintaining the spacing between the rows,lifting the gripped layer, and then depositing said gripped layer in astack at a stacking station.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which every second layer removedfrom the transfer belt is rotated through in relation to the precedinglayer before being deposited.

8. Apparatus for assembling and stacking bricks comprising incombination a conveyor feed belt movable in one direction and a transferbelt disposed in the same plane at the discharge end of said feed beltsubstantially contiguous therewith and movable in same direction and atthe same speed as said feed belt, means for moving bricks onto said feedbelt in a plurality of adjacent, parallel and longitudinal rows, meansfor aligning said bricks in transverse rows across said feed belt,timing means synchronized with movement of said transfer belt forautomatically starting said feed belt in order to move said transverserows successively onto said transfer belt while latter is moving and forstopping said feed belt after predetermined intervals, the length ofsaid intervals depending on the size of said brick, and forpredetermined lengths of time in order to space said transverse rowspredetermined distances one from the other on said transfer belt suchthat a layer of said transverse rows is assembled on said transfer beltwith predetermined spacing between said rows, and means for grippingsaid layer at the ends of said transverse rows, for lifting it from saidtransfer belt without disturbing the spacing between said transverserows and for depositing said layer in a stack at a stacking station.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said feed belt comprises aplurality of parallel belts, each independently driven and controlled,so that the number of said longitudinal rows of bricks being fed to saidtransfer belt can be varied in order to vary the length of saidtransverse rows for different layers.

1. A method of stacking bricks which comprises the steps of moving aplurality of adjacenT longitudinal rows of brick onto a feed belt,aligning the bricks in transverse rows by moving said longitudinal rowslengthwise against a fence, thereupon raising said fence and startingsaid feed belt in order to move a first of said transverse rows onto atransfer belt while running said transfer belt in the same direction as,and at substantially the same speed as, said feed belt, stopping saidfeed belt for a predetermined length of time when said first transverserow is disposed on said transfer belt while continuing to run saidtransfer belt such that said first transverse row is spaced apredetermined distance from the next transverse row on said feed belt,and sequentially starting and stopping said feed belt in timed relationwith the speed of said transfer belt in order to form a layer of saidtransverse rows on said transfer belt with said transverse rows spacedat predetermined distances from each other, and thereafter gripping theends of said transverse rows while maintaining the spacing between themin order to lift them as a layer, and then depositing said layer at astacking station.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which everysecond layer removed from the transfer belt is rotated through 90* inrelation to the preceding layer before being deposited.
 3. Apparatus forassembling and stacking bricks comprising in combination a conveyor feedbelt movable in one direction and a transfer belt disposed in the sameplane at the discharge end of said feed belt substantially contiguoustherewith and movable in same direction and at the same speed as saidfeed belt, means for moving bricks onto said feed belt in a plurality ofadjacent longitudinal rows, a stop disposed at the discharge end of saidfeed belt and movable into and out of the path of longitudinal rows ofbricks for aligning said bricks in transverse rows across said feedbelt, a timer synchronized with movement of said transfer belt forautomatically starting said feed belt in order to move said transverserows successively onto said transfer belt while the latter is moving andfor stopping said feed belt after predetermined intervals, the length ofwhich depend on the size of said brick, and for predetermined lengths oftime in order to space said transverse rows any desired distance onefrom the other on said transfer belt, said timer having means forprogramming such intermittent movement of said feed belt such that alayer of said transverse rows is assembled on said transfer belt withthe desired spacing between said rows, and means for gripping said layerat the ends of said transverse rows, for lifting it from said transferbelt without disturbing the spacing between said transverse rows and fordepositing said layer at a stacking station.
 4. Apparatus as defined inclaim 3 wherein said feed belt comprises a plurality of parallel belts,each independently driven and controlled, so that the number of saidlongitudinal rows of bricks being fed to said transfer belt can bevaried in order to vary the length of said transverse rows for differentlayers.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said programmingmeans comprises a plurality of cam disks and a limit switch associatedwith each of said cam disks for starting and stopping said feed belt,and a selector switch for shifting from one cam disk to another in orderto change the program for different size bricks and for changing thespacing between said transverse rows of bricks.
 6. A method of stackingbricks which comprises the steps of moving a plurality of adjacent,parallel and longitudinal rows of brick onto a feed belt, transverselyaligning the bricks in said rows on said feed belt while moving saidrows thereon, moving said feed belt to transfer a first of saidtransverse rows onto a transfer belt while running said transfer belt inthe same direction as, and at substantially the same speed as, said feedbelt, stopping said feed belt for a predetermined length of time whensaid first transverse row is disposed on said transfer belt whilecontinuing to run said transfer belt such that said first transverse rowis spaced a predetermined distance from the next transverse row on saidtransfer belt, and sequentially starting and stopping said feed belt forpredetermined intervals in timed relation with the speed of saidtransfer belt, the length of said intervals depending upon the size ofsaid brick in order to space said transverse rows one from anotherthereby forming a layer of said transverse rows on said transfer beltwith said transverse rows spaced at predetermined distances from eachother, and thereafter gripping the ends of said layer of transverse rowswhile maintaining the spacing between the rows, lifting the grippedlayer, and then depositing said gripped layer in a stack at a stackingstation.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which every second layerremoved from the transfer belt is rotated through 90* in relation to thepreceding layer before being deposited.
 8. Apparatus for assembling andstacking bricks comprising in combination a conveyor feed belt movablein one direction and a transfer belt disposed in the same plane at thedischarge end of said feed belt substantially contiguous therewith andmovable in same direction and at the same speed as said feed belt, meansfor moving bricks onto said feed belt in a plurality of adjacent,parallel and longitudinal rows, means for aligning said bricks intransverse rows across said feed belt, timing means synchronized withmovement of said transfer belt for automatically starting said feed beltin order to move said transverse rows successively onto said transferbelt while latter is moving and for stopping said feed belt afterpredetermined intervals, the length of said intervals depending on thesize of said brick, and for predetermined lengths of time in order tospace said transverse rows predetermined distances one from the other onsaid transfer belt such that a layer of said transverse rows isassembled on said transfer belt with predetermined spacing between saidrows, and means for gripping said layer at the ends of said transverserows, for lifting it from said transfer belt without disturbing thespacing between said transverse rows and for depositing said layer in astack at a stacking station.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 whereinsaid feed belt comprises a plurality of parallel belts, eachindependently driven and controlled, so that the number of saidlongitudinal rows of bricks being fed to said transfer belt can bevaried in order to vary the length of said transverse rows for differentlayers.